Confidence key to flying start for Bradford Bulls stand-off Sammut (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Confidence key to flying start for Bradford Bulls stand-off Jarrod Sammut

8:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

When Jarrod Sammut signed a new two-year deal with the Bulls last October, he spoke of his desire to establish himself as Francis Cummins’ first-choice stand-off.

Five rounds into the campaign and all is going according to plan.

Sammut’s hat-trick of opportunist tries during last weekend’s stunning win at Huddersfield took his tally to five for the season.

Not quite on a par with Brett Kearney’s seven, which make him the top scorer in Super League, but impressive all the same.

What was striking about Sammut’s tries against the Giants was that all three came as a result of him backing himself in tight situations.

The first saw the Malta international’s grubber ricochet back into his path to plunge over the line, the second came after he pilfered possession from Scott Grix, and his third was another close-range effort after the final hooter.

“It’s funny what a bit of confidence can do,” said Sammut, who endured a stop-start debut campaign at Bradford last season.

“It can actually take you a long way.

“The forwards laid the platform and got us on the front foot, allowing the likes of myself and the outside backs to have a bit of fun.

“I think you always need to stay positive when you’re trying to back yourself with little plays.

“Sometimes those 50-50 calls go your way and you need to be in position in the right time to get the bounce of the ball.

“Thankfully that worked in my favour at the weekend.

“It makes things easier when you get a good run in the side.

“Touch wood I won’t get any more injuries but unfortunately we play a contact sport and sometimes these things happen.

“I’m really grateful that Franny has put faith in me and I just want to repay him, the rest of the team and the fans for keeping me there.”

Pleasingly, Sammut dovetailed to great effect with Danny Addy last weekend after a slow start to their half-back partnership.

Sammut added: “We’re really low on numbers and the squad isn’t as deep as it was last year.

“That means things do need to be swapped around at times to accommodate injuries and things like that.

“Sometimes it does take a bit longer to get combinations going.

“But, slowly but surely, Danny and I are gelling together and Sunday was one of those days that paid off.

“We’ll keep working together and hopefully in the long run it works out well for us.”

The Bulls aim to record their second win inside six days tonight when they face Widnes, a club they did the double over last term.

Sammut damaged ankle ligaments in last season’s win at the Stobart Stadium which sidelined him for several weeks.

He is expecting a tough test against a Vikings side who could possibly include former Bulls player Phil Joseph.

The Huddersfield-based forward left the Bulls after just one season following an injury-disrupted year.

Widnes beat Hull FC last weekend and Sammut said: “We know it’s not going to be an easy game at Widnes.

“They’re on a high and are coming off the back of a great win last weekend.

“They’ll definitely be up for the challenge, especially at home, and we know it’s not going to be easy.

“We can’t go there and relax after the Huddersfield win.

“We need to back it up with another good performance and the right result.”